Configuration of Dollars Per Head or Covers

This article will explain:

• Why do we ask for 'Covers'?
• Which different ways can we report on Covers?
• How to select your preferred configuration for reporting

Why do we ask for covers?

In OrderMate, a cover is another term for "patron" or "customer". There are 2 ways to configure the way in which the number of covers that have been served in the venue are reported.

See Guide for Reporting on Covers Reporting by Covers

Which different ways can we report on Covers?

Covers by Patrons

Covers by patron is designed for restaurants using table mode. Each time a table is opened, the POS will prompt the user to enter the number of patrons. This figure is used for the cover numbers and dollars per head calculations.

When covers are setup in this manner, covers are only recorded for table mode. This means that restaurants using a combination of QuickSale (and possibly phone orders and other account types) can still get an accurate representation of their restaurant covers without the data being affected by other sale types.

In this case, the sales figure used for the dollars per head calculation is based on table sales only.

Covers by Item

Using covers by item is a great metric for QSRs as you can truly see the average spend of patrons rather than the average transaction which would often be higher.

Covers by item is typically used in QSRs (Quick Service Restaurants) where the customer orders and pays at the counter and all orders are entered as a QuickSale order. In these QSRs, often one transaction will contain many "covers" as a customer may be ordering several meals for their family or friends. When using the "Covers by Item" setup, each menu item in the POS is given a number of covers.

For Example:

At "Joe's Burger Shack" all orders are entered as a QuickSale in OrderMate. Joe has setup each of his burgers to count 1 cover, and the "Family Burger Bucket" to count 4 covers. When a customer comes in and orders 3 burgers with drinks and chips as well as a family bucket, OrderMate will count 8 covers (even though these have all gone through as one QuickSale transaction).

When using covers by item, covers are recorded for all order account types, not just table accounts.

How to select your preferred configuration for reporting

By default, OrderMate will be configured for "Covers by Patron". This property can be configured in OfficeMate.

1. Log in to OfficeMate
2. Navigate to the "OrderMate Properties" screen.

1. Select the "Ordering" tab.
2. The "Determine Patrons By" has 3 possible options, they are:

5. Once the desired option has been selected, be sure to click "Save". Once saved, the changes will not take affect until the next time the ServerMate software restarts (usually after 4am daily).